Lock-nut for axles



N0 Model.)

J SWAN LOOK NUT FOR AXLES.

No. 485,079. Patented Aug. 26,1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIcE.

JAMES SWAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LOCK-NUT FOR AXLES.

fiPEOIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 435,079, dated August26, 1890.

Application filed June 2,1890. Serial No. 353,972. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES SWAN, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Lock-Nuts for Vehicles,of which the following is a clear, full, and exact specification.

My invention relates to lock-nuts, especially such as are usedforvehicles, and particularly axle-nuts for retaining the wheels ofvehicles in place, and has for its object to provide a nut which shallbe easily locked in position, so as to prevent its removal by the motionof the wheel.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein-Figure 1 is an end view of the nut. Fig. 2 is a similar View with thelocking-lid open. Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the nut and end ofthe axle.

Like parts are indicate'd'by the same letter in all the figures.

A is the flange of the nut, having the inner portion B, against whichthe wheel on the axle O bears. The axle O is screw-threaded at D toreceive the internally-screW-threaded elevated portion E on the nut.This portion E is provided at one side with the snap-spring F and hashinged at its outer extremities the lid G, which is provided With theinternal cavity II and the cam-surface J. The end of the axle isprolonged and terminates in the portion K, which is preferably hexagonalat its sides, or atleast bounded by plane surfaces. The diameter of thisprojection K should be such as that its axis, measured between any twoparallel plane surfaces, should be but a trifle less than the diameterof the slot II. The spring F is adapted to be retracted by thecam-surface .I until the lid G is in position, when the end of thespring F will engage the upper surface of such lid and securethe sameinposition. It will of course be evident that great changes could be madein this device and in its construction without departing from the spiritof my invention.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows: The Wheel may beplaced upon the axle and the nut screwed in position in the usualmanner. The lid Gis now brought down into position so that its cavity Hincloses the projection K upon the end of the axle C. In this positionthe lid is held securely by the spring E It will therefore be impossiblefor the nut to move in either position, as it is securely locked, theend K being incapable of rotation in the cavity H. If,

when the lid G is brought into position, it is found that the positionof the nut is such that the part K will not be received into the cavityH, a slight turning of the nut in either direction will bringthe sidesof the cavity H parallel with two of the sides of the part K, whereuponthe lid canbe brought into position, as

indicated in Fig. 1.

I have spoken of my device as applied to an axle; but it is evident thatit is applicable to any bolt or other similar use. It is also immaterialwhether or not the nutcap is solid or whether it is perforated. I haveshown it with a smooth exterior, because it is visible from the side ofthe vehicle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is as follows:

The combination of a screw-threaded axle having a smaller extendedportion not screwthreaded with a nut screw-threaded upon the axle andprovided with ahinged portion having a recess, said extended portionadapted to be received into such recess and thus to lock the nut fromrotation, and the spring on the fixed portion of the nut adapt-ed toengage and secure the hinged portion in its closed position,substantially as and for the purposes described.

CELESTE P. CHAPMAN, DAVIDA J J OHNSON.

